Thelma (2024)

[BluBonnet]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFAFsDEM0j4

[BluBonnet]

‘Thelma’ Director Got Blessing of Tom Cruise (and His Own Grandma) for June Squibb Action-Comedy

There are multiple ways a director might make an action comedy centered on a nonagenarian. The concept brings to mind gags about medication and pratfalls with walkers and canes. There could also be a saccharine, hit-you-over-the-head message about life being too short.

Then there is Thelma, which avoids potential pitfalls and parody to offer a truly original and funny take on aging, and those who care for the aged.

June Squibb stars as the eponymous hero, who is the victim of a scam when someone pretending to be her grandson (Fred Hechinger) asks for $10,000 to help free him from jail, a common real life phone scam. (On Thursday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the San Diego FBI recovered over $3 million lost by elderly victims of similar scams.) When the cops prove no help, Thelma resolves to get the money back on her own, along the way commandeering a scooter and an accomplice, Ben, played by Richard Roundtree in his final role.



The movie is a send-up of the action genre and directly references Mission: Impossible movies, with clips, and Tom Cruise. Did you have to get his permission?

It came during production. We shot two versions of those scenes, one with Tom on [TVs and newspapers] and then one with like a replaceable green box. It was surprisingly smooth. Nicky Weinstock, who’s a producer on the movie, was at the same agency as him and has some pals in common there. We ended up sending the scene in the script to give him a little context and then a clip of the table read. We got his sign off and then we went to Paramount, which I suspect made things a lot easier there.

[Losey]

An absolute gem. June Squibb is wonderful, and so is the late Richard Roundtree. Often hilarious, and quite moving in spots. Loved it.

[maverick22]

Looks great!

Not sure if I’ll see it in theaters but will likely pick up the disc when it comes out.

[MifuneFan]

Loved this movie. I went in blind, and had a great time watching it. Quite funny, but also very touching and bittersweet at times too. I teared up on at least 3 or 4 different occasions (both happy and sad tears). I had no idea that the lead actress, June Squibb, was actually 93 during the filming of this, the same age as her character, or that Thelma is based on the director's actual grandmother. Squibb was really great in the role, and I was rooting for her character the entire film. I also thought the rest of the cast did a wonderful job too, especially Richard Roundtree in his final performance, and Fred Hechinger, who plays Thelma's loving and devoted grandson so well.

For me, the film also served as a great reminder of how much older generations deserve their dignity, and more of our attention, and respect. So often, they are forgotten about, or dismissed in our society, and it breaks my heart to think about it. I know I'm guilty of this myself, and the movie gave me that extra nudge to be more mindful of it, to reach out to my elderly relatives, or neighbors more often, etc..

4/5

[MovieReviews331]

Just saw this in theaters today. Definitely going to pick it up on blu-ray. Great film!

[Britnasty]

5/5

I absolutely loved this and also hated it, because it’s such an honest film and it only makes you feel bad for the elderly who get taken advantage of on a daily basis.

June Squibb knocked it out of the park, but she always does. I’ve loved her since being introduced to her in Nebraska and she only gets better and better. I hope this film isn’t forgotten come awards time; I’d love to see June get at least nominated for a Golden Globe in the Comedy/Musical film category.

[BluBonnet]

June Squibb currently has two movies in the top ten!!

And Thelma is doing great business for an indie!

[Diesel]

Had such a blast with this. Side splitting humor and many, many instances of conversations feeling like a real world conversation that would happen in a certain circumstance with every day people you know. That feeling is really hard to pull off.

[CelestialAgent]

BD on October 8th

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=34892

[tehthomas]

Streamed this last night on 'Hoopla' - delightful small film with a good heart and great performances, especially from Squibb and the late Richard Roundtree.

[BaronVH]

Going to say that this is one of the best films of the year. It is saying much more than people give it credit for. Not only does it address significant issues with elderly, but it also addresses the anxieties of middle age and younger adults very well. Extremely well done. Hope it gets a 4K release.

[d2cheer]

I found it only mildly amusing and entertaining.

Moves as slow as you think it does.

I will say the performances are pretty good but that is about all.

Not sure why she only

[Show spoiler] took back $9500 instead of the full 10K

that made no sense.

[THF90]

Originally Posted by d2cheer

I found it only mildly amusing and entertaining.

Moves as slow as you think it does.

I will say the performances are pretty good but that is about all.

Not sure why she only

[Show spoiler] took back $9500 instead of the full 10K

that made no sense.

She

[Show spoiler]felt bad for the old guy

?

Just watched this on Hulu and loved it!

[drb999]

I noticed this was on Hulu last night and I put it on My Stuff to watch it later. I think that my 83 year old mother will enjoy this.